The Saloon, U Street
20 people recommend, 3 warn against itvia r/washingtondc24 comments cited below
What people say, in short
The Saloon is a phone-free bar on U Street that many people recommend. A few describe the no-phone atmosphere as a plus, a few mention the upstairs loft, which hosts comedy shows and can be booked, and several mention that it supports a good cause. A couple praise the beer. A couple say the phone rules do not suit anyone who needs a laptop, and one says it has too many rules for a bar.
Address
Saloon, 1205 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009
At a glance
- Known for
- Phone free atmosphere
The evidence
Every point below is paraphrased from a real public comment, ordered by how much the community engaged with it. Caveats and negatives are kept in — follow any link to read the original for yourself.
- Recommendsu/FreddieDeebs in r/washingtondc · May 2024
Author calls this laid-back pub excellent, praising its good beer and the phone-free atmosphere.
- Recommendsu/let-it-rain-sunshine in r/washingtondc · May 2024
Says the upstairs hosts comedy and endorses it as a cool place that supports a good cause.
- Recommendsu/GottaWorkYourJelly in r/washingtondc · May 2024
Endorses the Saloon and praises its staff, though wishes it were less widely known.
- Recommendsu/20CAS17 in r/washingtondc · Jul 2025
Gives a short, enthusiastic endorsement of the bar.
- Recommendsu/thisisallme in r/washingtondc · Sep 2025
Says they spent much time at The Saloon back then, showing warm nostalgia for it.
- Recommendsu/jegerjess in r/washingtondc · Feb 2024
Notes that the U Street bar is absent from the list being discussed.
- Caveatu/MayorofTromaville in r/washingtondc · Jul 2026
Mocks the Saloon's no-phones reputation as a poor fit for a laptop-style hangout.
- Caveatu/MrSpontaneous in r/washingtondc · Jul 2026
Notes the asker needs laptop or phone use, implying The Saloon's phone rules don't fit.
Show all 24 cited comments
- Recommendsu/JubaSoup in r/washingtondc · Jun 2024
Suggests The Saloon as a U Street pick.
- Recommendsu/orchestrator-of-all in r/washingtondc · Nov 2024
Names The Saloon.
- Mixedu/AdvertisingOld9400 in r/washingtondc · May 2024service
Loves the Saloon but describes an odd survey request from a staff member that left them uneasy.
- Recommendsu/Digisap in r/washingtondc · Nov 2024
Names The Saloon.
- Recommendsu/texansirena in r/washingtondc · May 2024
Enthusiastically backs the Saloon and says they went often before attending shows.
- Recommendsu/Wity_4d in r/washingtondc · Feb 2026
Names this U Street spot as a suggestion.
- Recommendsu/chaoticxgemini in r/washingtondc · Nov 2025ambience
Booked the upstairs loft bar for a night, had it privately, and was allowed to set up a DJ stage.
- Caveatu/youaintgotnosoul in r/washingtondc · Sep 2025
Says it's not for everyone and has too many rules for a bar.
- Recommendsu/makemeking706 in r/washingtondc · Sep 2025ambience
Calls it a decent choice with good vibes, though not really a dive.
- Recommendsu/crucial_loaf in r/washingtondc · Jul 2025variety
Wants to return, pointing to its German beer and its range of peanut-based food.
- Recommendsu/Mistuhsnoot in r/washingtondc · Jun 2024
Agrees with the Saloon recommendation.
- Recommendsu/Jaycee3 in r/washingtondc · Dec 2025ambience
Calls it an interesting, TV-free bar where people get gently teased for staring at phones.
- Recommendsu/frazilator in r/washingtondc · Jul 2025ambience
Praises the upstairs area as an unusually distinctive space around town.
- Recommendsu/cmg350 in r/washingtondc · Nov 2024
Checks all cozy boxes, near Metro, and a nonprofit building schools.
- Recommendsu/True_Legend98 in r/washingtondc · Jul 2025
Visited once and had a good time there.
- Recommendsu/Turbulent-Ad-5520 in r/washingtondc · Jul 2026ambience
Says phone use isn't really possible at The Saloon, defending its phone-free atmosphere.
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Freshness
Details last checked 14 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.